Henning School seniors Monica Hansen and Isabelle Godding did an excellent job of representing the Henning School and community at the National Business Professionals of America (BPA) Conference/Contests from May 6-10 in Nashville, Tenn.  Over 6,000 students attend and compete at the National Contests each year. This year the event was held at the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville. Students compete in over 90 different contests and the top 10 in each are called up on Stage and receive a medal and then the top three receive a plaque as well. 

Hansen qualified in both of her events of Advanced Word Processing and Advanced Office Systems and Procedures, while Godding advanced in Advanced Office Systems and Procedures as well.  

In Advanced Word Processing students compete in Microsoft Word where they are asked to complete a series of projects and then at the National level they have to take the Microsoft Office User Specialist exam for Word (MOUS Certification) to earn extra points. This certification is tough and Hansen hasn’t been able to pass it in her other two previous National appearances, but she beat it this time and earned that Certificate and that helped lead her to a spot on stage and a ninth place finish out of 58 competitors with the points she earned on those other projects. 

Both girls immediately after their Advanced Office test expressed their feelings of how tough the test was and were both convinced they most likely were last and second to last in finishing. Of course as their advisor, Mike Hepola tried to remind them that it most likely was tough to many others as well and despite not making the top 10 and getting called up on stage Saturday night. When the results were published Sunday morning they were pleasantly surprised with their individual finishes of 28th and 30th overall among the 65 competitors in this event.  

With so many students competing in so many events, this conference lasted over four days and while not competing the girls and Hepola were able to do some exploring and had the opportunity to attend the Grand Ole Opry, which was within walking distance of their hotel. They got to kayak down the Cumberland River and explore the downtown area and enjoy some great food and music while enjoying some great weather.  

Hepola said he is proud of both of these young ladies and the careers they’ve had in BPA. He is really looking forward to all the wonderful things they are going to accomplish in their future.  He also wanted to thank everyone who has supported BPA through the fundraisers and such during the year.  One of the fundraisers, a golf tournament advertised elsewhere in this paper and Hepola would love to have people from the area join in on the fun.